Lantana plant named ‘Baloomwite’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Baloomwite’, characterized by its white-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright, mounded to rounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Lantana camara.

Variety denomination: ‘Baloomwite’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Baloomwite’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during June 2018. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Lantana cultivars having sterile flowers, attractive flower coloration, dark green foliage, and a moderately vigorous, upright, mounded to rounded growth habit.

The new Lantana cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection coded 3785-A, not patented, characterized by its medium yellow and pink colored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and mounded growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is BANDANA Peach ‘LANZ0002’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,317, characterized by its yellow, orange, and light red multicolored inflorescences, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, relatively compact and mounding growth habit. The new cultivar was selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during April 2019 in a controlled environment in Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2019 in Guadalupe, Calif. and Arroyo Grande, Calif. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Baloomwite’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant:

-   -   1. White-colored inflorescences;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright, mounded to rounded growth         habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having white-colored inflorescences unlike the medium yellow and pink colored inflorescences of the female parent, darker green colored leaves, and increased growth vigor. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily in having a white-colored inflorescences unlike the yellow, orange, and light red multicolored inflorescences of the male parent.

Of the many commercially available Lantana cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is BANDANA White Lantana camara ‘Ban Whit’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,590. However, in side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Ban Whit’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have slightly larger corolla         diameter than plants of ‘Ban Whit’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have more branches per plant than         plants of ‘Ban Whit’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have darker green-colored foliage         than plants of ‘Ban Whit’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Baloomwite’. The plants were approximately 5-months old. The plants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given three pinches prior to transplant and one application of Daminozide at 2500 ppm after the first pinch.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Baloomwite’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual inflorescence of ‘Baloomwite’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in August 2022 under natural light conditions in Naperville, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 5-month-old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 3-gallon containers for approximately 11 weeks in an outdoor nursery in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given three pinches prior to transplant and one application of Daminozide at 2500 ppm after the first pinch. Prior to transplant plants were grown in a polycarbonate greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 75° F. to 80° F. (24° C. to 27° C.) during the day and approximately 65° F. to 70° F. (18° C. to 21° C.) during the night. Supplemental lighting was used for first four weeks after sticking. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara ‘Baloomwite’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Lantana camara breeding selection             coded 3785-A, not patented.         -   Male parent.—BANDANA Peach ‘LANZ0002’, U.S. Plant Pat. No.             23,317. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 11 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 24 to 35             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 7 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm container.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Moderately vigorous,             upright, mounded to rounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 45.0 cm. Width: Approximately 86.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances             branching. Quantity of branches per plant: Approximately 6             basal branches with 8 main lateral branches.         -   Lateral branch.—Shape: Square in cross section. Strength:             Strong, becomes woody with age. Length: Approximately             38.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 4.5 cm. Texture: Densely pubescent             with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular hairs. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of young stem: 146B to             146C. Color of mature stem: 146B, becomes woody 199A to 199B             with age. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:             Approximately 18. Fragrance: Strong, spicy. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: Perpendicular to obtuse angle to stem.             Shape: Ovate. Margin: Serrate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 6.3 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             3.5 cm. Texture of upper surface: Moderately scabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent with a mixture             of scabrous and glandular hairs. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface of young foliage:             Closest to 137A with NN137A and venation of 146B to             indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of young and             mature foliage: Closest to 147B with venation of 146C. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to NN137A with             venation of 146B to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent with a             mixture of scabrous and glandular hairs. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Baloomwite’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the             plant.—Approximately 2 to 3 weeks. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Hemispherical head, axillary or             terminal. Quantity per plant: Approximately 42. Fragrance:             Strong, spicy. Aspect: Primarily facing upward or outward.             Height: Approximately 2.1 cm. Width: Approximately 4.0 cm.             Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 24.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Square in cross section.             Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm to             3.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Texture: Densely             pubescent with a mixture of glandular and nonglandular             hairs. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Salverform.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 1 to 2 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Buds open in             progression from the margin to the center of the             inflorescence. Quantity of unopened inflorescences per             plant: Approximately 14.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Elongated, rectangular at             apex. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             3.0 mm. Color: 11C.         -   Corolla.—Depth: Approximately 2.0 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 4, non-imbricate, non-symmetrical petals.             Petals are fused at base forming a corolla tube. Shape:             Obovate. Appearance: Matte. Aspect: Flat to cupped. Margin:             Entire, ruffled. Apex: Obtuse. Length of upper petal from             throat: Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of upper petal:             Approximately 8.0 mm. Length of lateral petals from throat:             Approximately 4.0 mm. Width of lateral petals: Approximately             4.0 mm. Length of lower petal from throat: Approximately             6.0 mm. Width of lower petal: Approximately 8.0 mm. Texture             of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface:             Densely pubescent. Color of upper surface when first open:             11C with center of 12B. Color of lower surface when first             open: 11D. Color of upper surface when fully open:             Transitions though NN155A with center of 11A to NN155D with             center lightly tinted with 11D, fades to NN155B with age.             Color of lower surface when fully open: NN155D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter at tube             opening: Approximately 1.0 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of outer surface: Densely pubescent at             tube opening transitioning to glabrous at base. Color of             pubescence NN155D. Color of inner surface: NN155D. Color of             outer surface: NN155C.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Tubular with two broadly acute tips. Length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm.             Texture of inner surface: Glabrous. Texture of outer             surface: Densely pubescent. Color of inner and outer             surfaces: 145D.         -   Bracts.—Quantity per flower: 1 per flower. Shape:             Lanceolate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Sparsely             pubescent. Texture of lower surface: Densely pubescent.             Color of upper surface: 146D with tip of 146A. Color of             lower surface: 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4, adnate             to corolla tube. Stamen length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Anther             shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm.             Anther color: 12A. Pollen amount: None observed. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: 1 per flower. Pistil length: Approximately             4.0 mm. Stigma shape: Misshapen funnel. Stigma length: Less             than 1.0 mm. Stigma color: 144D. Style length: Approximately             3.0 mm. Style color: 155D, translucent. Ovary diameter:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Ovary color: 144C. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Lantana has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant named ‘Baloomwite’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 